ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Katy Gallagher recently announced that in the lead up to Christmas ACT Libraries would be accepting food in lieu of library fines.
“The concept is quite simple – basically one tin or packet of non-perishable food equals $2 worth of fines. So if you donate three tins, then we will take $6 worth of fines off your account,” the Chief Minister said.
Chief Minister Gallagher commented that food will be donated to OzHarvest Canberra which provides food to 55 charities across Canberra and Queanbeyan.
Only non-perishable, sealed food items will be accepted. Food for Fines is only applicable during the stated period of time which is from Thursday 1 December until 1pm on Saturday 24 December 2011.
Libraries ACT is unable to accept damaged, broken or out of date items, perishable items, items requiring refrigeration, pet food or non-food items. unable to accept damaged, broken or out of date items, perishable items, items requiring refrigeration, pet food or non-food items.
In 2010 7,400 items of food where donated which is about one tonne of food.

For more information http://www.library.act.gov.au/